Posted on 03/26/2007 9:49:21 AM PDT by RepublicanPatriot
You're fairly easily amused there, xsmommy.
Thompson does not have executive kind of experience, the author is right. That's true of some of the other candidates as well, and is something to consider.
And neither is anyone who supports him.
That told you how much time he spent doing that thinking? I suspect you might know some of his thoughts by reading his material, but I doubt it can tell you if it was deep thinking or how long he spent arriving at his conclusions. Maybe Reagan was thoughtful enough to think through all of that in ten minutes, or maybe it actually took his entire life.
As for Fred Thompson, I doubt if the absense of written annals are an indication of a lack of thought. Some people write, other don't. That probably has little connection to his leadership potential.
Compromise is why we are in the situation we are now suffering. We are in desperate need of a leader who can help restore Constitutional principles, put and end to the Nanny State, and actively protect the soveriegnty of our Nation. Rudy does not seem disposed to do any oth this.
I'd rather sit it out, wait till things are really bad, then restore the Republic with a new and grand collection of determined people. I will not compromise on important matters anymore, because this Nation deserves better.
"Seems odd that anyone who is a Rudy supporter would be a member of FR. At least as far back as I can remember, FreeRepublic was primarily intended as a Conservative meeting place for news and discussion of said news."
Hmm, I am a Fredhead, but I have to disagree with you here. Incidentally, has anyone here noticed that Fred makes it a point to speak only positively about the Rupublicans running and to say that they would all make good presidents? What he admits is that there are not a lot of conservative principles being articulated and that he, were he to run, would give a voice to the conservative wing of the party.
I had decided on Rudy until Fred started making some noise. Now I prefer Fred but would still welcome Rudy over the Dems. True, Rudy is not a conservative on many of the issues we conservatives hold dear. But he is probably the greatest Mayor of my lifetime (and NYC has more people than all but a few states). I think he would make a very effective president, though it is likely he would not further much of the conservative agenda. Though I am as right wing as they come, I try to respect good people who come at issues a little different from me. For example, Hillary Clinton now fills the seat previously occupied by the great Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Were I a New Yorker, I would have been proud to have him as my senator. Were I in Connecticut, I would have gladly voted for Joe Lieberman last year - he was a far better candidate than the Republican who was running.
Rudy isn't the most conservative guy in the race, but until I got a whiff of Fred in the air, I thought he was the best guy running. I would still gladly vote for him as the Republican nominee, should it come to that.
I too have a problem with Hunter and his spending, but compared to Rudy, McCain, et al. he is as good as we could hope for. Thanks.
sjb
If someone has written extensively on the same subjects over many, many years, you can bet 99.999% of your net worth that the person has done some deep thinking in those areas. Stop being incredibly obtuse!
I can't say that I blame you. This is a very tough time for conservatives and the choices are not easy. I have some paleocon friends who think the same way you do. I felt the same when I was younger, having voted Libertarian rather than support Dole and George HW Bush. I supported GWB and while I don't regret it I am very disappointed, like most people here.
Where we are is our fault. We squandered the authority the public gave us and now we have no credibility. In addition, the demographics have changed, and that cannot be overcome in a democracy. Personally, I'd like to see them require a college education to vote, but if anything the power will be spread thinner and thinner, to include illegals at some point, as the tyrrany of the majority will destroy what few constitutional limits remain.
We have seen it in Europe. We see it in Canada. California, certainly. And it will overtake the nation as well. So we are where the conservatives in Europe were about 40 years ago. They said they would wait it out as the socialist system would implode. The socialists have figured out how to keep the carcass alive for a long time before it dies. The Europeans are in decline, but it has been 40 years, and collapse is not imminent. The point is, I am 54 and cannot wait that long. I want to make a difference now.
Finally, let me point out one other thing about your argument. You are basically rooting for your country to fail. That's what the Democrats do. They hope the war will fail, the economy will falter, etc, because it presents political opportunity forthem. No matter how bad the intrusions on my liberty get, I may even leave the country at some point, but I will never hope for America's failure.
Jimmy Carter had executive experience, and he was the worst president in U.S. history.
Ouch! I am hoping for the GOP to wake up and represent its people. I used to vote for the "lesser of two evils", but that is clearly why we are in the situation we face. I didn't think GWB would be so much in favor for open borders and outsourcing our engineering. I chose the "lesser", and got the same thing as if I'd voted Democrat. Actually, I think there is a possibility that the Dems would make an attempt to protect American jobs.
I'm 57 now, and getting downright jaded with our crop of "representatives".
We squandered the authority the public gave us....
Are you a "representative"? I cannot begin to voice my anguish over what has been lost through compromise. Now I have my back to the wall with only root beliefs remaining ... something I will not compromise.
Personally, I'd like to see them require a college education to vote...
I'd like to see evidence that our "representatives" actually understand the Constitution well enough to know they take their oaths seriously.
Basically, I have no remaining faith in the system. Too many elected and unelected officals have betrayed this Nation.
It is simply wonderful to spar with someone as thoughtful and polite as yourself. I've degraded to "hit and run diatribe" because of the assaults mounted by the Bush/Rudy 'bots.
The title of this article begs one question:
When Reagan was running, who was he not?
Ummmm, nobody is a Ronald Reagan. He was one of a kind.
But, dang it, I enjoy being obtuse!
Reagan was indeed wonderful, but not on as high a throne as many seem to think. Compared to those immediately preceding and all who followed, he was awesome.
Rudy is too much a leftest for my tastes. His stance on the Second Amendment clearly shows that he forgets who is supposed to be in charge of this Nation and what relationship is assumed between elected officials and citizens. The Second Amendment encompasses very important philosophies regarding that relationship. It differentiates "subjects" and "citizens".
This is why Rudy is not acceptable to me. Fred Thompson may be no Reagan, but he is not like the remaining "heirs to the throne" either.
Well, I totally agree except I only partially blame our representatives. I also blame the people who elected them, so therefore I have to take a little responsibility myself. True, I believed the Republicans were actually sincere about the Contract With America, but I probably should have known better. In the end, we get the government we deserve in a democracy.
>> Well, I am in the sausage factory and that is what is so amazing to those of us who toil in this game... Nothing like that is happening... <<
O my gosh! Could it be... a SINCERE politician? The notion that he might actually be contemplating running for President without it consuming his soul is actually to astounding to consider! It might actually mean... a psychologically healthy presidential candidate!!!
Your description sums things up very well.
Nice catch!
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